Royal Higher Institute for Defence

What Royal Higher Institute for Defence does

The Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID/IRSD/KHID) is a Belgian state entity established by Royal Decree of 10 August 2006 as the specialised reference think tank of the Belgian Ministry of Defence. Operating from its headquarters at Campus Renaissance in Brussels, RHID fulfils a dual mandate as a think tank producing interdisciplinary security and defence research, and as a smart hub/honest broker coordinating the Ministry's scientific and technological research programme across three domains: Data Acquisition and Processing (DAP), Mobility, Systems and Protection (MSP), and Human Factors and Medicine (HFM). The current research programme comprises 123 studies, and the institute coordinates a triple helix model between Defence, academia and industry through annual calls including DEFRA (with BELSPO since 2021), SCRiMM (military medicine), Strike IT (cybersecurity/IoT), SLSR (strategic literacy), and a maritime security demonstrator call with Blue Cluster.

The institute is organised into three core departments: the Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS), which produces the Security & Strategy series, Focus Papers, Thematic Papers, e-Notes, and the Belgian Military Journal and runs monthly evening conferences; the Scientific and Technological Research Department (STRD/RSTD), which manages the 123-study programme and coordinates with the Royal Military Academy, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, and Defence Laboratories; and the Department of High Studies, which delivers the 21-year-old HSSD (with Egmont Institute) and the ESDC-organised High Level Course. RHID represents Belgian Defence on the European Security and Defence College Executive Academic Board and contributes to NATO STO, EDA, and EU PESCO frameworks, including Belgium's commitment to allocate 2% of national defence spending to military S&T research.

The institute is entirely funded by the Belgian Ministry of Defence and does not publish commercial pricing; services, publications and public events are provided free of charge. Customers are exclusively institutional: Belgian government authorities, armed forces, senior public managers (Belgian and European), academic and industrial partners. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Director-General Rear Admiral Baudouin Coppieters de Gibson leads an organisation whose governance is exercised through a Board of Directors defined by ministerial decree (18 June 2024).

Name

Royal Higher Institute for Defence

Legal name

Institut royal supérieur de défense (Royal Higher Institute for Defence)

Website

https://defence-institute.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Royal Higher Institute for Defence is Belgium's specialised state defence think tank and research coordinator, producing interdisciplinary security studies, managing 123 research studies across defence institutions, and delivering executive education programmes for Belgian and European senior managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence Research Services

NAICS

National Security (928110), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Graduate & Postgraduate Institutions (STEM/Defense Research) (EDAHAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intelligence (Strategic, Tactical & Technical) (BPAIAHAD), Defense Universities & Joint Professional Military Education (PME) (EDAHAOAB)

Keywords

• Defence research programs
• Security policy analysis
• Defence executive education
• Scientific defence research
• Military strategic studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: The institute receives funding through the Belgian Ministry of Defence for conducting scientific research, studies, and educational programmes. The research programme is entirely financed by Defence and primarily intended for defence research institutions.
2. International Research Collaboration: Funding from European programmes including European Defence Fund, NATO STO, EDA projects, and PESCO commitments (2% of national defence budget allocated to military S&T research).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Royal Higher Institute for Defence is a government defence think tank that conducts interdisciplinary security and defence research, coordinates scientific and technological research programmes across Belgian universities and industry, and delivers high-level executive education for military and civilian defence professionals. It operates departments covering security and defence studies, scientific and technological research, and high studies (including the Advanced Defence Research Seminar and the Defence, Peace, Security and Conflict programme), and serves as a privileged interlocutor between the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces, academia and industry.

Product overview

The Royal Higher Institute for Defence (RHID) operates as Belgium's specialised defence think tank and research coordination body. Its product portfolio comprises three interconnected service lines: (1) the Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS), which produces interdisciplinary research publications including Security & Strategy reviews, Focus Papers, Thematic Papers, e-Notes, and the Belgian Military Journal; (2) the Scientific and Technological Research department, which manages funding programmes including DEFRA, SCRiMM, Strike IT, SLSR, and maritime security demonstrator projects across domains spanning data acquisition, mobility systems, human factors, military medicine, and cybersecurity; and (3) the High Studies department, which delivers executive education programmes including HSSD (High Studies for Security and Defence) and HLC (High Level Course) in partnership with the Egmont Institute and ESDC. Supporting initiatives include the NGCAT Working Group on next-generation air combat, BEPIDS economic mapping research, and the DIRS (Defence, Industry and Research Strategy) framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DIRS – Defence, Industry and Research Strategy: A strategic framework aimed at developing and consolidating the Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base, strengthening EU strategic autonomy, and generating economic and social returns through dual-use technologies.
• CSDS – Centre for Security and Defence Studies
• SLSR – Strategic Literacy and Societal Resilience
• SCRiMM – Structural Collaborative Research in Military Medicine
• STRIKE IT – Cyber Defense Factory
• DEFRA – Defence-related Research Action

Products and services

• Interdisciplinary Defence and Security Research Standing research service covering defence and security policy, delivered through CSDS (Centre for Security and Defence Studies) for the Belgian Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces, and partner academic and international bodies.
• Scientific and Technological Research Coordination (STRD) Coordination of scientific and technological defence research across Belgian universities, defence institutions and industry via the Triple Helix model, supported by the institute's Research Programme Database.
• High Studies in Defence (HDS) High-level executive education programme for senior military officers and civilian defence officials, including the Advanced Defence Research Seminar and the Defence, Peace, Security and Conflict programme.
• Advanced Defence Research Seminar Advanced seminar for senior defence and security professionals, providing high-level research-oriented training within the HDS curriculum.
• Defence, Peace, Security and Conflict Programme Educational and research programme covering defence, peace, security and conflict, delivered under the HDS department to defence and security professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 123 research studies managed in current programme cycle
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Blue ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Partnership with Blue Cluster for call for demonstrator projects in maritime security. Info session on 6 May 2026 at UR Square, Brussels. Focus on TRL 5-6 projects progressing to TRL 7.
• Belgian Universities and University HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025SCRiMM (Structural Collaborative Research in Military Medicine) programme enhances research collaborations with universities and associated university hospitals. Themes include military physical recruitment standards and phage therapy clinical trials.
• Von Karman Institute (VKI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2024Strategic partnership signed December 2024 between VKI and Ministry of Defence to strengthen Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base (BITB-DTIB). Enhances cooperation between Ministry of Defence, RHID, and VKI in technological and industrial field. The board of directors visited VKI facilities in February 2025.
• Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2021Protocol agreement signed December 2021 for long-term collaboration on DEFRA programme. BELSPO provides expertise and technical platforms for organising scientific programmes. First DEFRA call launched March 2021.
• Royal Military Academy (RMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on BEPIDS (Belgian Economic Potential in Industry of Defence and Security) research project with VUB and BELSPO funding. Maps stakeholders of Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base and identifies capability gaps.
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with RMA on BEPIDS research project funded by BELSPO and RHID, mapping Belgian Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
• Royal Institute for International Relations EgmontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership for High Studies for Security and Defence (HSSD) - cycle of ten residential seminars and ten visits for Belgian audience. Also partners on High Level Course (HLC) under ESDC.
• European Security and Defence College (ESDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHID represents Belgian Defence in ESDC Executive Academic Board (EAB). HLC programme organised under ESDC auspices for European public with first module in Brussels.
• NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMany research projects conducted as national contribution to NATO STO projects. International cooperation strongly encouraged in defence research programme.
• FPS Economy and Agoria-BSDIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on BEPIDS survey with FPS Economy and Agoria-BSDI for analysis of Belgian Defence and Security-related Technological and Industrial Base.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): UK's leading defence and security think tank, founded in 1831 and operating as an independent, government-funded research institute. Highly comparable to RHID as a national reference think tank providing policy research, publications, and convening functions for the British MoD.
• Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich: Swiss security-focused research center at ETH Zürich providing independent analysis on security policy and emerging risks. Comparable to RHID's CSDS in producing interdisciplinary academic-grade security research with policy impact.
• Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l'École Militaire (IRSEM): France's official strategic research institute attached to the École Militaire, conducting interdisciplinary defence and security research for the French MoD. Functionally mirrors RHID's role as the specialised reference think tank of the Belgian MoD.
• Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI): Norway's principal defence research establishment, conducting applied research for the Norwegian Armed Forces across scientific and technical domains. Functionally parallel to RHID's STRD coordinating defence research across military, academic, and industrial partners.
• NATO Defense College: NATO's professional military education institution delivering senior-level strategic courses to allied officers and officials. Comparable to RHID's HSSD/HLC programmes in providing high-level security education for senior defence and civilian leaders across the Alliance.
• Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI): Swedish government defence research agency conducting scientific and technical research across defence, security, and societal resilience domains. Closely comparable to RHID's STRD department in coordinating defence science across multiple research domains with a Triple Helix model.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): Germany's leading foreign policy and security think tank, providing independent policy advice to the Bundestag and federal government. Closely comparable to RHID's CSDS in producing evidence-based policy analysis for national security decision-makers.
• Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations: Belgian foreign policy think tank that is RHID's actual partner on the HSSD programme and broader diplomatic-security research. Closely comparable as a Belgian-based, government-engaged think tank producing strategic analyses and convening senior officials.
• Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael): Dutch think tank on international affairs providing independent analysis and training to government and civil society. Comparable to RHID as a neighbouring Benelux partner offering interdisciplinary security research and executive education (paralleling HSSD).
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global defence and security think tank producing strategic analysis, the Military Balance, and convening senior defence leaders. Comparable to RHID in publishing strategic analyses (Security & Strategy series) and operating convening platforms for senior defence officials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RHID_IRSD_KHID
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoyalHigherInstituteForDefence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/royal-higher-institute-for-defence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Royal Higher Institute for Defence